If you’ve got lots of broken crayons lying around the house, don’t throw them out — it’s easy AND fun to make new color crayons out of all those old broken pieces!

You’ll Need:

• old color crayons
• muffin pan
• muffin pan liners.

Get Started:

1- Preheat your oven to 250 degrees.
2- Peel paper off crayons.
3- Cut crayons into small pieces.
4- Divide by color.
5- Put liners in muffin pan. If you don’t want to use liners, use a non-stick oil.
6- Fill your muffin pan with whatever colors you wish.
7 - Bake for 10-15 minutes at 250 degrees.
8 -Remove from oven and let cool 30-60 minutes. They will be hot!
9- After they are cool, remove paper liner.

Go crazy! You can create all kinds of color combos like rainbow, camo, two-toned, patriotic, Halloween or even Christmas colors. Use a regular sized pan, mini muffins, shaped muffin tins — the possibilities are endless!

While it would probably be much better to use a more eco-friendly type of color crayon, lets face it — a lot of households still have Crayola crayons and reusing them is a great way to give them new life!

Reprinted with Permission From: The Eco Chic Family Blog

Got a great green tip you’d like to share? Share your tips on our tips discussion thread over at the Green Mom Community Network!

[Image credit: knitting school dropout]

By Cristina, July 8, 2008  
Filed under: Kids, Recycle, Tips

It turns out that all those fireworks I’ve set off over the years haven’t been so good for the environment. For one thing, the chemicals burned off in the process of igniting the fireworks are hazardous. Plus, fireworks are not recyclable. But what 4th of July holiday is the same without them? Here are a few tips we’ve gathered from around the web to help green your holiday:

1. Cut down on the number of fireworks set off in your community by gathering neighbors and friends to watch fireworks together.
2. Clean up fireworks promptly so ash and chemicals don’t blow through the air overnight.
3. Contact your city’s hazardous waste facility to see if they have any special requirements for disposal.
4. Skip the fireworks altogether and get the kids some ribbon streamers instead!

Tipped off by EnviroHumanImpact and Inhabitat

May you have a safe and happy 4th of July!

[Image courtesy of Grundlepuck]

By Cristina, July 4, 2008  
Filed under: Tips

If you have kids, I’m betting you’re already painfully aware of the challenges of throwing a party that’s fun, as well as green, healthy and socially responsible. It’s a pretty tall order and frankly, I feel like I’ve hit a home run if I can meet just one of those last three. I know I’m not alone because I’ve heard plenty of parents lament over feeling pressured to top the previous year’s party with something bigger and better; with the latest character themes and lots of cool stuff in the goody bags (which, let’s face it, usually ends up being a lot of cheap crap from China). My own kid party dilemma is coming up again soon and, as per usual, I’m grappling with ways to throw a green, non-commercial, crap-free party that is still a lot of fun so when I read this article on KIWI magazine’s web site with ideas for kid’s parties that are eco-friendly, healthy or socially responsible, I was pretty stoked. It’s got a long list of ideas for party themes and games that have absolutely nothing to do with arcades featuring rodent mascots, fast-food places, expensive bouncy things or build-your-own overpriced stuffed animal places and everything to do with having genuine fun while doing good.

Find it Here: KIWI Online

[Image from Webweaver]

By Izzy, July 3, 2008  
Filed under: Kids, Resources, Tips

This is by far the easiest playdough recipe I have ever tried. OK, well, it’s true that this is only the second playdough recipe I’ve ever tried, but still — after I used this one, I knew I had a winner. The pluses of making your own playdough? You will recognize all of the ingredients, which you probably already have in your home. You can make more whenever you run out. And most importantly, you don’t have to drag your kid to the store buy more. It’s a win-win for everyone! Oh, and this recipe takes about 5 minutes to make - that’s about an hour less than it would take for me to go buy some at the store! Even the kids can help with the mixing and kneading. Store it in an airtight container and it stays moist through many, many uses.

Recipe

1 cup flour

1 cup boiling water

2 tbsp. cream of tartar

1/2 cup salt

1 tbsp. oil

Mix and knead together.

Tipped off By: Cooks.com

Image credit: Pinot & Dita

By Cristina, June 13, 2008  
Filed under: DIY, Kids, Play, Tips

Did you know that conventional store-bought fingerpaints can contain toxic chemicals, like Toluene and Ethylene Glycol, that can get into your child’s body through their skin? How this is even legal we don’t know, but the good news is you can buy safe, natural finger paints or even better, make your own with ingredients you may already have around the house. Let the kids help if they’re old enough and make an afternoon of it. Then, after the kids go to bed and the mess is all cleaned up, go ahead and treat yourself to a nice long bath or a glass of wine. Or both!

Natural Fingerpaint Recipe

• 1 cup of cornstarch
• 1/2 cup of water
• 1/3 cup of grated soap (choose your favorite plain organic bar soap)

1. Melt grated soap flakes into a half cup of boiling water.
2. Add cornstarch.
3. Blend well and put aside. Allow mixture to thicken.
4. Divide into small containers and add coloring.

Natural colorings can be derived from the juice of frozen berries, beet juice, tea, onion skins (boiled) or other natural sources. You can store your fingerpaints in the refrigerator. for about a week.

Thanks for the Tip: LovetoKnow.com

By Izzy, June 3, 2008  
Filed under: Kids, Learn, Preschooler, Tips

Tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the plant Melaleuca Alternifolia and is native to Australia. With it’s antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal and antiseptic properties, tea tree oil makes a great all-natural household cleaner.

All-Purpose Cleaner: Use 15 drops of tea tree oil to 1 quart of water in a spray bottle. Use on counter tops or for general cleaning.

Mold Killer: Combine 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil in 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Shake to blend. Spray on mold and don’t rinse.

Laundry Disinfectant: Add one teaspoon of tea tree oil per load to disinfect laundry such as diapers or to prevent transmission of fungal infections.

Happy green cleaning!

Find It Here: Healthy and Green Living

Do you have a great green cleaning recipe that really works? Share it with us in our brand-spankin’ new GMF Forum!

By Amy, May 25, 2008  
Filed under: Clean, Home, Resources, Tips

The Mother Earth News website, a companion to the print version, is a great resource for tips on DIY projects, renewable energy, organic gardening, sustainable farming and more. In the Fresh Content Daily section, there is always something new to read. Curious about how and when to plant potatoes or what is the best organic milk? You’ll find it there. You can also browse through the most popular articles, diverse blogs, even the current issue of Mother Earth News. Also handy is the 38-year archive completely available on-line which features an archived article every day on the main site.

Find It Here: Mother Earth News

By Kris, May 9, 2008  
Filed under: Gardening, Learn, Organic, Read, Resources, Tips

At Green Mom Finds, we try to make every day Earth Day by doing little things daily to reduce our impact on the Earth. Yet, sometimes it can be a little overwhelming knowing where to start. So to kick-off the week, we are bringing you a few easy precycling tips for putting a little more “green” into your life.

1. Use cloth napkins. Check out Fabkins for a really fun alternative for kids!
2. Take reusable shopping bags to the store with you. There are so many cool styles these days - like Skeeda, EcoBags, and Pretty Green.
3. Buy in bulk and avoid individually wrapped items when possible.
4. Stop unwanted junk mail through a free online service like ProQuo or Catalog Choice.
5. Read magazines and newspapers online.
6. Use a computer to pay bills, send party invitations and stay in touch with friends. Try Pingg for the classiest, most professional e-vites we’ve seen yet.
7. Buy recyclable packaged items rather than non-recyclable, and consider using glass containers for storing leftovers instead of plastic.

Choose just one of these tips to start incorporating into your life this month and you’ll be doing the Earth a huge favor! And then, go get yourself some fair-trade, organic chocolate to pat yourself on the back for being such a good Earth-loving mama. I know, I will.

By Cristina, April 20, 2008  
Filed under: Tips

Finding safe household and body care products is not always an easy task, especially when one of the toxic ingredients you are trying to avoid doesn’t even have to be listed in the ingredients. That’s the case for 1,4-Dioxane, a carcinogenic by-product of the cancer-causing petrochemical ethylene oxide. Researchers have known for a while that 1,4-Dioxane can be found in conventional products, but now we know that it can also be found in some so-called “natural” and “organic” products as well. A new study released by The Organic Consumers Association found 1,4-Dioxane in products made by several well-known “natural” and “organic” brands, such as JASON, Kiss My Face, Giovanni Organic Cosmetics, and Nature’s Gate Organics. On the bright side, there were some products by natural/organic brands that were found to be free of 1,4-Dioxane.

So, how can you avoid purchasing products with 1,4-Dioxane if it’s not even listed as an ingredient? Try these tips: 1) Look for products that bear the “USDA Organic” seal or that are German Natural “BDIH” Certified. These products are not allowed to contain 1,4-Dioxane. 2) Avoid buying products with the following ingredients: myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth, any other eth, PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, or oxynol.

Want more info?

Find It Here: Organic Consumers Association Results of Testing for 1,4 Dioxane

We realize that news alerts like this are anything BUT fabulous but in the continued interest of helping you green your world and keep your family safe, we feel it’s important to post them if they are relevant to our readers. We will resume our regularly scheduled eco-fabulousness tomorrow. Over and out!

By Cristina, March 18, 2008  
Filed under: Clean, Eat, Home, Learn, Organic, Resources, Tips

Dying Easter eggs this year? Consider skipping on the artificial coloring and make some natural dyes! All you need to make dye are some chopped fruits and vegetables, water and white vinegar. Oh - and a few eggs, preferably the cage-free, local, organic variety if available. After all, why use artificial food coloring when you can use pomegranate juice for red, spinach for green, blueberries for blue, or lemon peels for yellow. Find the exact recipe, along with decorating tips at The Green Guide.

Find It Here: The Green Guide

(Tipped off by Eco Child’s Play )

(Image courtesy of Mary Jane’s Farm.)

By Cristina, March 15, 2008  
Filed under: Kids, Tips

Since becoming a mom, I’ve grown increasingly concerned over the foods that my family eats as well as the safety of the pots and pans used to cook them. Teflon and other non-stick surfaces are now believed to pose a potential health hazard when used at high temperatures or when the surface has been scratched. Classic cast iron, on the other hand, is a great (and totally non-toxic) option. Not only does it distribute heat better than any other cookware but cooking in cast iron is known to greatly increase one’s dietary iron, of which only 65% of Americans get enough. It’s also naturally non-stick when properly seasoned and, when it’s well cared for, cast iron cookware will last a lifetime and then some.

Find It Here: Lodge

By Amy, February 27, 2008  
Filed under: Eat, Home, Tips

For the life of me, I can never remember how much tuna is safe for my kids to eat. Nor can I ever remember whether it’s cod or tilapia that contains less toxins. Well, now, thanks to KidSafe Seafood, I can stop wondering. KidSafe Seafood’s Best Choices list, developed in consultation with scientific experts and in partnership with organizations like the Children’s Health Environmental Coalition and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, contains the six safest fish selections for kids, plus an extensive safety analysis of almost every species of fish you can think of. For each type of fish, find out what the health concerns are (i.e., mercury, PCBs, dioxins or pesticides), find out whether there are any environmental concerns, and most importantly, find out the maximum number of times per month that a child should consume that particular fish.

Find it Here: KidSafe Seafood

By Cristina, February 22, 2008  
Filed under: Eat, Kids, Tips